African violet plant

ABSTRACT

A distinct African Violet plant having strong and erect flower stems, flowers which are medium blue in flower color and relatively large and star-shaped in form, uniform flowering, and generally round, medium green foliage.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of AfricanViolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Maryland.

Maryland, referred to during the selection process by the designation (b171/1)-35/76, is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating a new African violet plant combining certain ofthe desired characteristics of the parent cultivars. The female, or seedparent, is a non-patented cultivar designated by the breeding No. XX 94(lilac, 48-8) and was selected for its medium green, round leaves andits upright, strong stems. The male, or pollen parent, alsonon-patented, is designated by the breeding No. XIX 4339 (red, 46-10),and was selected for breeding because of its red flower color. The crosswas made by me in Isselburg, West Germany. The new cultivar Maryland,surprisingly, is generally medium blue in flower color and hasstar-shaped flowers, which neither parent possesses. However, Marylanddoes have the desired characteristics from its parents of medium green,generally round leaves and upright, strong stems.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leaf cuttings and bydivision of shoots, as performed by me at Isselburg, Rhineland, Germanyhas demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany under greenhouse conditions whichclosely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Maryland which in combination distinguishthis African Violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Erect, upright and strong flower stems.

2. Compact plant which can be grown close together without stretchingleaf stems.

3. Flowers very uniformly, approximately 6-7 weeks after potting.

4. Medium blue flower color and large star-shaped flowers which arenon-dropping.

5. Generally round, medium green foliage.

The accompanying photographic drawings show a typical specimen plant ofthe new cultivar.

FIG. 1 comprises a perspective view of the finished plant and

FIG. 2 comprises a photograph showing various parts of the plant, topand underside, and the developing bud formations. The time from theearliest bud formation shown to the fully opened flower is approximately6-7 weeks. The colors appearing in the photographs are as true aspossible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to the MunsellLimit Color Cascade chart, except where general color terms of ordinarysignificance are employed.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat. cv Maryland.

Parentage:

Male parent.--XIX 4339 red, color 46-10.

Female parent.--XX 94 mauve, color 48-8.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings and by division ofshoots.

Plant:

Size.--From 8 cm. to 10 cm. tall when grown in pots, and approximately25 cm. in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General Form: round to oval. Diameter: 55-60 mm. Texture: soft.Aspect: velvety. Veins: well pronounced on underside. Color: upperside-- 21-15. underside -- 22-1. Petiole: between light green and reddish;hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: cap-shaped red-brown sepals and blue violet outside;8-10 mm. before opening. Sepals: Color: green-brown to red-brown. Calyx:funnel-shaped and synsepalous. Aspect: hairy outside. Peduncle: 20-30mm. long, flexible, erect.

Individual flowers.--Size: 40-45 mm. Color: Upperside -- 1-11. Underside-- 1-8. Borne: Profusely in a central flower head forming compact andvery upright bouquet. Shape: cup-shaped, open, a few flowers tend to bemedium double in shape. Corolla: 5 petals, same size, smooth but wavededges. Arrangement: 5-7 flowers on erect flower stem, ending onreceptacle (torus) connected by brown spear-shaped sepals. Floweringtime: After potting approximately 6 weeks plant shows the first flowers;a very decorative saleable plant is present in 3 additional weeks.

Reproductive organs.--Anthers: 5 anthers with 2 cells, 2 mm. wide;golden yellow color 26-4. Arrangement: basifixed. Filaments: 4-5 mm.long, light yellow color 25-1. Styles: one, light green, hairy 2 mm.,going to violet up to the stigma. Pollen color: 27-2.

Roots.--Well developed and fresh while on young and active plantsturning brownish on older plants.

Disease resistance.--Very good.

General observations: The large flowers of Maryland form a large bouqueton erect and upright stems, thereby providing an early saleable plant.The blooming period is long and the plant continuously blooms, with thestems on second and subsequent bloomings being even stronger than onfirst blooming. The flowers are non-dropping and the anthers do notspread, thereby giving a tight yellow center. The characteristic ofcompactness permits the plants to be grown close together, a significantfactor to the grower.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet known by thecultivar name Maryland and characterized particularly as to uniquenessby the combined characteristics of large star-shaped flowers which aremedium blue in flower color and non-dropping; generally round, mediumgreen foliage; erect, upright and strong flower stems; compact growthhabit; continuous flowering and very uniform first flowering,approximately 6-7 weeks after potting.